Remotely controlled magnetically operated game apparatus



June 7, 1966 A. A. TUURl 3,254,445

REMOIELY CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Armas A. Tuur/ A. A. TUURl June 7, 1966 REMOTELY CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1963 FIG. 3

I Wi 22 d FIG. 4

INVENTOR. Armas A. 7Duri BY W, M

United States Patent 3,254,445 REMOTELY CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Armas A. Tuuri, Mount Morris, Mich, assignor to Arton Industries, Inc., Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 292,824 18 Claims. (Cl. 46235) This invention relates to remotely controlled game apparatus and more particularly to a magnetically responsive toy boat adapted to float in water and wherein the boat may be made to move through the water under the influence of magnetic fields which may be generated and collapsed under the control of remotely operated means.

Magnetically sensitive toy boat devices have been proposed heretofore and mainly have utilized a plurality of fixed electromagnets which may 'be energized and deenergized so as to attract and release a toy boat having magnetically responsive means associated therewith. Although such devices have been satisfactory from an engineering or technical standpoint, they have had relatively little appeal to the children for whom they were designed because of inflexibility of the route or course along which the boat could be moved, or, if flexibility of route were available, the means for attaining the flexibility were either difficult or cumbersome to operate.

An object of the invention is to proivde a remotely controlled, magnetically operable game device which is exceedingly simple to operate and which provides limitless flexibility of routes over which a movable game piece may travel.

Another object of the invention it to provide apparatus of the character referred to which is inexpensive to manu drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of game apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, enlarged view of a movable game piece forming part of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of another part 'of the apparatus, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the'invention comprises a support 1 formed of any suitable magnetically permeable, non-conductive material such as molded polyethylene or the like and comprising side walls 2 and end walls 3 arranged to form a substantially square figure. Between the top and bottom edges of the side and end walls is a base or bottom member 4 which, together with the portions of the side and end walls and extended thereabove, form a reservoir for the reception of water or other liquid. The depth of liquid to be contained within the reservoir will be determined by the draft of a toy boat 5 or other game piece which is adapted to float in the liquid, the liquid depth being such as to permit unimpeded movement of the boat through the liquid.

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Preferably midway between the ends of one side wall 2 is a curved projection 6 that extends toward the opposite side wall 2, and the opposite side wall is provided with a similar projection 6'. The side walls 3 are provided with corresponding projections 7 and 7'. Secured to and extending outwardly from one of the side Walls 3 is a housing 8 which will be referred to in more detail hereinafter.

Beneath the base member 4 is located a plurality of sets of electromagnetic units.- In the disclosed embodiment, there are two sets of electromagnetic units indicated, the units of one set being indicated by the reference characters 9 and 9' and the units of the second set being indicated by the reference characters 10 and 10.

The unit 9 comprises an elongated bar or core 11 of magnetic material such as iron and around which is an electrically conductive, helical winding 12. The unit 9' comprises a core 11' similar to the core 11 that is spaced from and substantially parallel to the latter, and a winding 12' similar to the winding 12. The windings 12 and 12' are connected to one another at corresponding ends of the associated cores by a conductor 13 so that the two windings are connected in series with one another. At the opposite ends of cores 11 and 11 the respective windings are connected to conductors 14 and 14' which are connected to one set of terminals of a double pole, double throw switch 15 that is located within the housing 8. The second set of terminals of the switch 15 are connected by wiring to the conductors 14 and 14', but in such manner as to reverse the polarity of the switch when it is thrown from one of its closed positionsto the other.

Normally, the switch 15 is open andis operated by a finger piece 16 that is spring biased in a conventional manner to a neutral position so as normally to maintain the switch 15 open. A suitable source of D0. electric energy such as a flashlight battery 17 is connected across the poles of the switch 15. The arrangement is such that movement of the finger piece 16 forwardly, i.e., toward the adjacent wall 3, to close the switch 15 enables current to flow from the battery 17 through the conductor 14 to the winding 12, thence through the conductor. 13 through the winding 12, and from the latter back to the battery through the conductor 14'. Actuation of the finger piece 16 in the opposite or rearward direction will enable current to flow from the battery 17 in the opposite direction.

The electromagnetic unit 10 comprises a core 18 that is similar to the cores 11 and 11', and the core 18 is wrapped with an electrically conductive, helical winding 19. The unit 10 comprises a similar core 18' that is spaced from and substantially parallel thereto, and around which is wrapped-an electrically conductive winding 19'. The windings 19 and 19' are connected to one another at corresponding ends of the associated cores by a conductor 20. The opposite ends of the windings 19 and 19' are connected by conductors 21 and 21', respectively, to two terminals of a switch 22 that is similar to the switch '15. The switch 22 includes a manually operable finger piece 23 that is spring biased to a neutral position and which may be actuated to move the switch to either of its two closed positions from its normally open' position.

Associated with the switch 2 2 is a battery 24 that is similar to the battery 17, but the battery 24 is so arranged that the switch 22 has a polarity that is opposite to the of the conductor 20, and from the winding 19 back tothe battery 22 through the conductor 21. Actuation of the finger piece 23 rearwardly enables a flow of current in the opposite direction.

Patented June 7, 1966 3 As is indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the cores of the two sets of electromagnetic units are so arranged as to form a closed, geometric figure that approximates the configuration, in plan, of the support 11. The cores of thetwo set-s of units are arranged to alternate with one another and the adjacent ends of adjacent cores cross one another. Preferably, the cores cross directly under the sets of projections 6 and 7 and preferably just beneath the maximum point of projection of the latter. The cores of the electromagnetic-unit may be maintained in such positions of loops 25 of non-magnetic material that are cemented or otherwise suitably fixed to the lower surface of the base member 4.

The toy boat may have a body 26 formed of wood or other buoyant material and includes a driving magnet 27 between its ends and which preferably is so arranged that its longitudinal axis is vertical. The north seeking pole of the magnet 27 should point downwardly. Preferably, the boat 5 is provided with two steering magnets 28 and 29 at its opposite ends, one magnet being located adjacent each end of the body 26. The north seeking pole of each magnet '28 and 29 preferably points forwardly of the body 26. It would be possible to dispense with the steering magnets 28 and 29 by positioning the driving magnet 27 obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 26 and with the north seeking pole of the magnet extending forwardly and downwardly. However, the use of the steering magnets 28 and 29 makes the boat more sensitive and responsive to the generation and collapse of magnetic fields.

To condition the apparatus for operation, the member 1 is filled to a predetermined level with liquid such as water and the boat 5 placed in the water so as to be capable of moving to any part of the support.

As is well known, the flow of an electric current through a conductor that is wound about a magnetizable core generates a magnetic field .which magnetizes the core. Thus, closing of the switch 15 in one direction, such as by forward movement of the finger piece 16, will cause a current to flow through the windings 12 and 12' in one direction so as to generate a magnetic field around each core 11 and 11 and magnetize the latter. Since the current flows through each winding 12 and 12' in the same direction, the cores 11 and 11' will be magnetized in the same manner. Thus, the flow of current through the windings 12 and 12' in one direction will cause one end of the core 11 to assume the characteristics of a north seeking pole and the opposite end of the core 11 to assume the characteristics of a south seeking pole. The same observation applies with respect to the core 11'. Reversing the direction of flow of current through the windings 12 and 12' will cause magnetization of the cores 11 and 11' in such manner that the ends of the respective cores will assume the opposite polarity from that just described. The foregoing observations also apply with respect to the electromagnetic uni-ts and 10.

If both of the finger pieces 16 and 23 are operated simultaneously in the forward direction, that is, toward the left as indicated in FIGURE 1, to effect simultaneous closing of the switches and 22, the current will flow simultaneously through the windings of their respective sets of electromagnetic devices. Inasmuch as the polarity of the batteries 17 and 24 is opposite, the adjacent ends of the alternate cores of the respective electromagnetic uits will be magnetized to similar polarity. Thus, at the intersection of the cores L1 and 18 there may be either a strong north or south magnetic field and at the intersection of the cores 11' and 18 there will be a similar strong magnetic field. At the intersection of the cores 11 and 18' there will be either a strong south or north magnetic field and a similar magnetic field at the intersection of the cores 11' and 18. If the boat 5 is adjacent the projection 7 and with its bow pointing toward the latter when the switches are closed in such directions as to cause a strong north magnetic field adjacent the projection 7, the steering magnet 29 will be repelled so as to cause the boat to turn toward one of the projections 6 or 6' which, at that time, will have a strong south magnetic field associated therewith. The switches need be closed only for a short period of time, inasmuch as the iron constituting the cores of the electromagnetic units will retain some residual magnetism which will react with the driving magnet 27 to cause the boat to be propelled toward the south magnetic field toward which it turns from the position indicated in FIGURE 1. As the boat approaches the projection 6 or 6', the switches may be closed in the opposite direction for a short period of time so as to reverse the polarity of the magnetic field adjacent the projections 6 and 7, thereby establishing a north magnetic field adjacent the project-ions 6 and 6 which will act to repel the boat -5.

If the switches are closed simultaneously in opposite directions one of the cores at each intersection thereof will have a north magnetic field associated therewith and the other intersecting core will have a south magnetic field associated therewith. If the boat is slightly to one side of center of, but adjacent any projection, the steering magnet 28 or 29 that is the closer to a core will be acted on by the magnetic field associated therewith so as to turn the boat in one direction or the other. By manipulating the switches it is possible to turn the boat in either direction adjacent any projection and cause the boat to move toward or away from that projection or toward or away from any other projection. It also is possible to cause the boat to turn completely around at any point of its travel or to change direction when desired. Accordingly, the boat is capable of traversing any course desired.

The apparatus is light in weight, made from readily available waterproof materials, and is easily carried from place to place. It also is quite safe to operate inasmuch as it utilizes flashlight batteries of relatively low voltage such as one and one half volts per battery, for example.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention but it is intended to be illustrative rather than defiinite thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Remotely controlled game apparatus comprising support means; a plurality of electrically independent sets of electromagnetic units on said support means and so arranged relatively to one another as together to form a geometric figure; electrically conductive means connecting each unit of each set thereof in series and adapted for connection to a source of DC. electric energy; and a plurality of switch means corresponding to the number of sets of said units and operable to connect and disconnect said conductive means of any selected number of said sets to said source for respectively enabling and disabling the flow of current through said selected sets of units.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said switch means is operable to effect reversal of the fiow of current through at least one of said sets of units.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including magnetically sensitive means movably supported by said support means and movable relatively to the latter in response to operation of said switch means.

4. Remotely controlled game apparatus comprising support means; a plurality of electrically independent sets of electromagnetic units on said support means and so arranged relatively to one another as to form a closed geometric figure, the units of each set of units being alternated with the units of the other sets; electrically conductive means connecting each unit of each set thereof in series and adapted for connection to a source of DC. electric energy; and a plurality of switch means corresponding to the number of sets of said units and operable to connect and disconnect said conductive means of any selected number of said sets to said source for respectively enabling and disabling the flow of current through said selected sets of units.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said switch means is operable to effect reversal of the flow of current through at least one of said sets of units.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including magnetically sensitive means movably supported by said support means and movable relatively to the latter in response to operation of said switch means.

7. Remotely controlled game apparatus comprising a Walled support having a bottom member and being capable of containing a liquid; a plurality of sets of electromagnetic units supported on said bottom member and so arranged relatively to one another as to form a closed geometric figure having a configuration approximating the configuration of said bottom member; electrically conductive means connecting each unit of each set thereof in series and adapted for connection to a source of DC. electric energy; and a plurality of normally open sets of switch means cor-responding to the number of sets of said units, each of said switch means being operable independently of the others for selectively enabling and disabling the flow of current through a selected number of sets of said units.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said switch means is operable to eifect reversal of the flow of current through its associated set of units.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including buoyant means adapted to float in a liquid contained in said support, said buoyant means including magnetically sensitive means cooperable with said electromagnetic units to effect movement of said buoyant means in response to selected manipulation of said switch means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said electromagnetic units are supported by said bottom member below the latter.

11. Remotely controlled game apparatus comprising a walled support having waterproof side and bottom members formed of magnetically permeable material and capable of containing liquid at a predetermined depth; a first set of electromagnetic units comprising a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart magnetizable members; a second set of electromagnetic units comprising a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart magnetizable members, the members of said sets of units being so arranged relatively to one another as to form a four sided geometric figure with the adjacent ends of adjacent members crossing one another; means mounting the members of said sets of units on said bottom member and beneath the latter; electrically conductive means connecting each member of said first set of members in series; electrically conductive means connecting each member of said second set of members in series; and switch means on said support operable to connect and disconnect the electrically conductive means associated with each of said first and second sets of units to and from a source of D.C.

' electric energy.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including a buoyant device adapted to float on liquid contained in said support, and magnetically responsive means carried by said device.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim'11 wherein said switch means is operable to reverse the direction of current flow through said sets of units.

14. Remotely controlled game apparatus comprising a support capable of containing liquid of a predetermined depth; a first set of electromagnetic units comprising a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, elongated, magnetizable cores, and a helical, electrically conductive winding on each of said cores and connected to one another in series; a second set of electromagnetic units comprising a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, elongated, magnetizable cores, and a helical, electrically conductive winding on each core of said second set of units and connected to one another in series, the cores of said sets of units being so arranged as to form a closed, substantially square figure; first electrically conductive means in circuit with the windings of the cores of said first set of units; second electrically conductive means in circuit with the windings of the cores of said second set of units; first switch means in circuit with said first conductive means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the latter to and from a source of DC. electric energy; and second switch means in circuit with said second conductive means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the latter to and from a source of DC. electric energy.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein the ends of the cores forming adjacent sides of said figure cross one another.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said support includes a projection supported thereby adjacent and overlying the crossed ends of said cores and in a position to engage an object afloat on the surface of said liquid.

' 17. The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said first and second switch means is operable to effect flow of current through the associated conductive means in either of two opposite directions.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 17 in which said first and second switch means are operable independently of one another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,613 11/1929 McCoshen. 1,848,880 3/1932 Hansen 46-235 2,894,747 7/1959 Seymour 46-235 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. REMOTELY CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY INDEPENDENT SETS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC UNITS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SO ARRANGED RELATIVELY TO ONE ANOTHER AS TOGETHER TO FORM A GEOMETRIC FIGURE; ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS CONNECTING EACH UNIT OF EACH SET THEREOF IN SERIES AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF D.C. ELECTRIC ENERGY; AND A PLURALITY OF SWITCH MEANS CORRESPONDING TO THE NUMBER OF SETS OF SAID UNITS AND OPERABLE TO CONNECT AND DISCONNECT SAID CONDUCTIVE MEANS OF ANY SELECTED NUMBER OF SAID SETS TO SAID SOURCE FOR RESPECTIVELY ENABLING AND DISABLING THE FLOW OF CURRENT THROUGH SAID SELECTED SETS OF UNITS. 